Using statistical process control (SPC) to demonstrate solution convergence in a technician guided segmentation system

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for generating a computer model from scan data from a patient, comprising:
         (1) acquiring the scan data from the patient;   (2) selecting a plurality of key frames from the scan data;   (3) hand segmenting the selected key frames, whereby to identify specific anatomical structures;   (4) automatically generating segmented intervening frames for the regions between the key frames using an interpolation process;   (5) merging the automatically segmented intervening frames with the hand segmented key frames so as to generate a complete set of segmented frames;   (6) obtaining a first measurement of a selected feature of the complete set of segmented frames;   (7) hand segmenting at least one additional key frame and replacing a corresponding intervening frame with said one additional key frame within the complete set of segmented frames;   (8) re-interpolating the set of segmented frames based upon the updated set of key frames;   (9) obtaining a second measurement of the selected feature of the re-computed set of segmented frames;   (10) comparing said second measurement with said first measurement; and   (11) if the second measurement differs from the first measurement by a statistically significant amount, replacing the first measurement with the second measurement and repeating the process from Step 7.

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims benefit of:

(1) pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/487,884, filed Jul. 15, 2003 by David T. Chen et al. for USING STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL (SPC) TO DEMONSTRATE SOLUTION CONVERGENCE IN A TECHNICIAN GUIDED SEGMENTATION SYSTEM; and

(2) pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/580,082, filed Jun. 15, 2004 by David T. Chen et al. for USING STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL (SPC) TO DEMONSTRATE SOLUTION CONVERGENCE IN A TECHNICIAN GUIDED SEGMENTATION SYSTEM.

The two above-identified patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to medical imaging in general, and more particularly to medical imaging comprising computer models generated from scan data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Source medical images, such as from Computerized Axial Tomography (“CT” or “CAT”) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (“MRI”) scanners, comprise images in which interior anatomical structures can be identified. See, for example, FIG. 1, which shows a typical scan image of interior anatomical structures. In general, CT scanners work by passing X-rays systematically through the body, while MRI scanners rely on a radio-sensitive effect caused by aligning water molecules within the body.

In the case of vascular structures, the anatomical structure being visualized can include bloodflow lumen, thrombus, calcified plaque, and non-calcified plaque. Bloodflow refers to that part of the vessel anatomy in which blood is flowing freely. Thrombus is clotted blood that is very thick and viscous. Calcified plaque is a hard, bone-like substance that forms within blood vessels and is a significant contributor to vessel stenosis.

The aorta is the main artery that takes blood from the heart, through the abdomen and into the lower part of the body. An aneurysm refers to a disease state in which the blood vessel wall becomes weakened and then “balloons” out in a characteristic way. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (“AAA”) refers to an abnormal, localized enlargement of the aorta in the region below the renal arteries (which feed the kidneys) and above the iliac bifurcation. See, for example, FIG. 2, which shows a typical abdominal aortic aneurysm. If left untreated, such an aneurysm will frequently continue to enlarge in size until it ultimately ruptures and causes death. The precise cause of AAA is unknown but is most commonly associated with atherosclerosis, hypertension and smoking.

The source medical images from CT or MRI scanners generally comprise a set of two-dimensional slices taken through the patient's body. Each slice comprises a two-dimensional matrix of intensity values (e.g., 0-4095) reflecting different tissue characteristics. These slices may be viewed in their native format (e.g., as an image created with different shades of darkness, according to the scan's intensity values). Alternatively, the intensity values within a particular slice may be analyzed and the boundaries and regions for each of the anatomical structures shown in that slice labeled or “segmented”. The segmented two-dimensional slices may the be viewed as individual slices or they may be further processed; using volume rendering techniques so as to create 3-dimensional computer models of the patient's anatomy, or 3-dimensional meshes of the isosurfaces representing the segmented boundaries may be constructed, or metrics such as volume or surface area may be calculated.

In connection with the foregoing, a problem associated with the prior art is that, in order to be quantitatively accurate and meaningful, the segmentation process must currently be conducted for every single slice of the source medical images.

Medical Metrx Solutions (formerly Medical Media Systems) of West Lebanon, New Hampshire (“MMS”) provides outsourced advanced imaging and three-dimensional reconstruction services. The processing services of MMS are a fundamentally different business model than conventional systems that offer workstation/software packages used for in-house three-dimensional modeling.

More particularly, conventional systems are generally based on either Maximum Intensity Projection (“MIPS”) or other automated segmentation and volume-rendering techniques. These conventional segmentation technologies, which are designed for general diagnostic, gross visualization of data, have the advantages of automatic segmentation processing, however, they also have the severe disadvantages of limited accuracy. The technical limitations of automatic segmentation processing include a substantial number of artifacts (i.e., missing or misleading anatomical elements), poor imaging of thrombus and small vessels, and the inability to accurately quantify anatomic measurements such as volume.

Instead of the automatic segmentation software used by conventional systems such as GE Advantage Windows™, Vital Images Vitrea™ and others, the MMS system is based on technician-guided segmentation in which axial slice data is manually reviewed and edited by highly trained technicians. MMS has compared its hand segmentation process to competing systems and found that for certain applications, including AAA modeling, the MMS system of hand segmenting image data produces models of superior accuracy. Among other things, the MMS hand segmentation process permits the creation of highly accurate polygon-based surface representations which provide the basis for the advanced MMS treatment planning software, Preview®, which includes multiple model objects. See, for example, FIG. 3, which shows a screen capture from the MMS Preview® system. The semantic nature of the MMS Preview® model enables extensive measurements to be made of the anatomy, including volumes, areas, distances, and computer-generated centerlines. The MMS image processing system is designed to ensure the highest standard of product quality and includes built-in metrics and methods for measuring that quality.

The MMS reconstruction software is designed to optimize the accuracy of segmentation of multiple anatomical structures when used by highly trained technicians. Proprietary segmentation tools allow for precise definition of bloodflow, thrombus/non-calcified plaque, calcium and other objects simultaneously during technician-guided processing of the CT or MRI scan data.

While conventional systems geared to produce automatic diagnostic output may take on the order of 15-30 minutes of operator time to run, at MMS it can take several hours to manually define the segmentation on every image of a 200 slice study. The fundamental limiting factor is the requirement for the technician to look at, and manipulate (e.g., to segment the different anatomical structures by “painting” on the native slice image), each slice image individually. At MMS, a typical study normally involves the processing of approximately 180 slices. However, with newer technology now becoming available, such as multi-detector CT machines, the number of source images can increase dramatically, e.g., by a factor of ten. This can dramatically increase the workload placed on the trained operator when conducting hand segmentation of the scan slices.

Thus, there is needed a way to reduce the processing time associated with hand segmenting every slice of a study without sacrificing model integrity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To mitigate the problem of “too many slices”, a segmentation interpolation system has been developed by MMS which can automatically, and reliably, derive, using the native scan data, the segmentation for “in between” slices from any number of hand segmented key slices (“key frames”). Conceptually, segmentation interpolation can be considered to have some very rough analogies to a “key frame” three-dimensional animation system where it is too tedious for an animator to specify the exact location of all scene elements for every single frame. In this animation task, the computer can be used to interpolate the “key frames” to create any number of interpolated scenes.

For the purposes of segmentation interpolation, the important observation to make is that true anatomical differences can be represented on relatively few slices while the great majority of slices will be more alike than different. For example, at the aortic bifurcation, the configuration of the anatomy is changing rapidly so that many key frames may be needed to accurately represent this area. On the other hand, in the main body of the aneurysm, each slice looks very similar to its neighbors, so that less key frames may be needed to accurately represent the anatomy.

Thus, this new system now developed by MMS combines the best of two worlds: hand segmentation is used for the most critical slices (i.e., where the anatomy is changing rapidly from slice to slice) and automatic segmentation is used for the less-critical intervening slices (i.e., where the anatomy is relatively constant from slice to slice). Thus, with the new MMS system, the key frames are hand segmented and the intervening frames are automatically segmented using an interpolation technique. Furthermore, the MMS system provides algorithms for ensuring that an appropriate set of key frames (i.e., adequate in both number and location) is used so as to ensure an accurate representation of the anatomy involved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the invention, which is to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a typical scan image of interior anatomical structures;

FIG. 2 is an MMS reconstruction of an actual abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA);

FIG. 3 is a screen capture of the MMS Preview® reconstruction software user interface;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a Snake-based algorithm for segmentation interpolation;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views illustrating a Fast Marching (level set) based algorithm for segmentation interpolation;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic views illustrating measures that express how divergent two segmentations are from one another;

FIGS. 9, 10 and 10 a are screen displays illustrating how statistical process control (“SPC”) may be used in connection with the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a method for defining a stepping interval;

FIG. 12 illustrates how bloodflow segmentation may be used as a seed and a “Fast Marching” (“level set”) algorithm may be used to define thrombus; and

FIG. 13 is a series of screen displays illustrating how the MMS system provides tools to simultaneously define multiple anatomies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Overview

With the new MMS system:

(1) the scan data is acquired from the patient;

(2) a plurality of key frames are selected from the scan data;

(3) the selected key frames are hand segmented by a technician, whereby to identify specific anatomical structures;

(4) an interpolation process is used to automatically generate segmented intervening frames for the regions between the key frames;

(5) the segmented intervening frames are merged with the segmented key frames so as to generate a complete set of segmented frames;

(6) a computer model of the patient's anatomy is generated from the complete set of segmented frames;

(7) a first measurement is made of a selected feature of the computer model;

(8) at least one additional key frame is hand segmented by a technician and used to replace a corresponding intervening frame within the complete set of segmented frames;

(9) the computer model is re-computed based upon the updated set of segmented frames;

(10) a second measurement is made of the selected feature of the re-computed computer model;

(11) the second measurement is compared with the first measurement; and

(12) if the second measurement differs from the first measurement by a statistically significant amount, the second measurement is used to replace the first measurement and the process is repeated from Step 8 on, otherwise the model is considered completed.

In one preferred form of the invention, the initial set of key frames may be automatically generated by the system, e.g., the system may automatically select some subset of the scans to be the key frames. Or the technician may select the key frames.

And in another form of the invention, the interpolation process may automatically generate segmented intervening frames for the regions between the key frames by interpolating solely from the segmented key frames. Or the interpolation process may automatically generate segmented intervening frames for the regions between the key frames by utilizing the native scan data in combination with the segmented key frames.

Interpolation Algorithms

Two potential algorithms available to accomplish segmentation interpolation are the “Snakes” (or “active contours”), and “Fast Marching” (or “level set”) methods. Other interpolation algorithms exist as well. For the purposes of the present invention, the precise details of how the segmentation interpolation is actually implemented is not critical.

Snake-based numerical techniques rely on markers, which try to track the motion of the boundary (see FIG. 4) by breaking it up into “buoys” that are connected by “pieces of rope”. The idea is to move each buoy under the speed F, and rely on the connecting ropes to keep things straight. The belief is that, to some extent, more buoys will make the interpolation more accurate.

Unfortunately, things tend to get quite complicated if the buoys “try to cross over themselves”, or if the shape “tries to break into two”; in these cases, it is very hard to keep the connecting ropes organized. In three dimensions, following a surface like a breaking ocean wave, is particularly difficult.

Rather than follow the boundary itself, the Fast Marching algorithm makes use of a stationary approach to the problem. At first glance, this sounds counter-intuitive; a moving boundary problem is being traded for one in which nothing moves at all. To see how this is done, imagine a grid laid down on top of the structure, as shown in FIG. 5. Now suppose that a person is standing at each red grid point with a watch. When the front crosses each grid point, the person standing there notes the crossing time T. This grid of crossing time values T(x,y) determines a function; at each grid point T, T(x,y) gives the time at which the front crosses the point (x,y).

As an example, suppose the initial solution is a circle propagating outwards (see FIG. 6). The original region (the blue one on the left side of FIG. 6) propagates outwards, crossing over each of the timing spots. The function T(x,y) gives a cone-shaped surface, which is shown on the right side of FIG. 6. This surface has a significant property; it intersects the x-y plane exactly where the curve is initially. Better yet, at any height T, the surface gives the set of points reached at time T. The surface on the right side of FIG. 6 is called the “arrival time surface”, because it gives the arrival time.

Statistical Process Control (“SPC”)

So given some number of hand segmented images, and a method to perform segmentation interpolation, preferably using native scan data, a critical problem that this invention is designed to address is how to quantitatively develop a “stopping criterion” for developing a level of confidence in the number of key frame slices that are actually segmented by hand. It has been long accepted that technician-guided segmentation is the “gold standard” for anatomic veracity. The new MMS system is based on the concept that, by hand segmenting a statistically appropriate number of key frames, the “gold standard” can be effectively achieved without hand segmenting every slice in the study.

At MMS, it is believed that for a typical abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) study, only about 30 of 180 slices will need to be key framed, i.e., hand segmented. How can this number by proven?

Because we are creating a medical product that requires a detailed examination of slice data for anatomy, the MMS modeling staff must undergo an extensive training program. In addition, MMS has instituted a review system in which an anatomy expert verifies every study before the final product is released. The MMS product specification (as determined to provide sufficient clinical utility) is to make volume calculations to an accuracy of plus or minus 5%.

As part of the MMS model/review process, MMS employs Statistical Process Control (“SPC”) to numerically quantify the quality of the segmentation that is created during the initial modeling stage. MMS has developed measures that express how divergent two segmentations are from each other. The simplest measure is percent (%) volume change for all the slices of a study. Based on the MMS product specification, the goal is for the initial segmentation to differ by no more than 5% from the segmentation as defined by the reviewer. A second measure that MMS has developed is percent (%) deviation, which provides a more stringent assessment that accounts for all differences between what a modeler has done and the subsequent review. The Venn diagrams shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate how the % Volume Difference and % Deviation are calculated.

FIG. 9 shows how these quantities are tabularized in the context of the current MMS segmentation tools. The first column (A) shows the segmentation elements that will be compared. The next two columns (B and C) show the SPC measures for the current slice. The first column in this group (B) is the % Volume difference for Slice 47, while the one to the right (C) is the % Deviation for Slice 47. The last two columns (D and E) present these same two SPC measures but cumulated through all 153 slices. The bottom “All” row is a cumulated sum of the results for each color.

A novel stopping criterion for the number of key frame slices that are used to drive any segmentation interpolation scheme has been developed as follows.

First, it should be recognized that as more and more key frame (i.e., hand segmented) slices are added, the divergence of an “interpolated” segmentation (S_(INTERP)) from the gold standard segmentation (S_(GOLD)) will, by definition, approach zero. That is, in the limit when every frame is a key frame, then S_(INTERP)=S_(GOLD).

Consider the components of the graphical user interface shown in FIG. 10. As before, the two columns of data on the left of FIG. 10 represent, for each anatomic structure, the segmentation volume in cubic centimeters (cc) and the percent change in volume. In addition, the bottom label shows how many key frames were done for the last two S_(INTERP) that have been created and the total number of frames that are compared. In the “Segmentation Interpolation” box, the “MMS_AAA” Combobox represents one choice of a multiplicity of interpolation algorithms to apply. The “Do Interpolate” button will cause a new S_(INTERP) to be made with the new currently defined key frames. The cc and % diff columns will be automatically recalculated at this time.

Using the 5% volume difference from the MMS Preview® product specification, the claim can be made that if, with the addition of extra key frames, the % volume change is not greater than 5%, then the solution S_(INTERP), as obtained through segmentation interpolation, is converging to the “gold standard” of manual segmentation of every slice. At MMS, this information is saved as part of the “Production Batch Record” as a means of verifying the level of quality that has been achieved for any given study (see the “Report” button in FIG. 9).

Furthermore, FIG. 10 a shows a refinement of the process just described wherein the production technician can choose to perform the segmentation interpolation step based solely on a single anatomical element (in this case thrombus). Experience has shown that of the various anatomic elements identified for a AAA study that the bloodflow is relatively simple while the thrombus is quite difficult. For this reason, algorithms that segment bloodflow only have been successfully implemented at MMS. Thus in order to produce a complete segmentation product, the interpolator must be informed to ignore the bloodflow layer and operate solely on key frames as defined by thrombus.

Methods for Defining the Initial Key (Or “Exemplar”) Frames

In addition to the foregoing, the present invention includes the following preferred methods for defining the initial key (or “exemplar”) frames.

1. A Method for Defining a Stepping Interval Between the Initial Key (or Exemplar) Frames.

The step interval between the initial key frames can be either manually specified in millimeters or number of frames, or automatically specified through knowledge of the underlying anatomy or rate of change of the segmentation, etc. See FIG. 11.

Stepping intervals define the distance between two sequential key frames. A preferred method is provided to traverse key frames based on stepping intervals.

-   -   1.1 Specify Stepping Interval in Number of Frames.     -   Each frame has a frame index number so that a specific key frame         can be accessed by using its frame index number. With a stepping         interval specified as a number of frames, the frame index number         of the next key frame in a non-decreasing order is equal to:         frame index number of current key frame+stepping interval in         number of frames     -   When the command of “next slice” is executed (e.g., when the         “Forward” button is pressed), the program can jump to the next         key frame by omitting the next (stepping interval-1) frames.     -   1.2 Specify Stepping Interval in Millimeters.     -   Based on the spacing information, the stepping intervals in         millimeters can be translated into stepping intervals in the         number of frames in the following way:         stepping interval in numbers of frames=stepping interval in         millimeters/slice_interval         where slice_interval is the distance in millimeters between two         sequential frames.     -   After that, the next key frame can be found by applying the same         technique used in Section 1.1 above.     -   1.3 Specify Stepping Interval Automatically Based on the         Knowledge of the Underlying Anatomy.     -   With the knowledge of anatomy, the change of the segmentation         can be predicted. If big changes in segmentations within some         regions are expected, the stepping interval will be decreased.         If little variations are expected, the stepping intervals are         increased. Therefore, modelers save time by hand segmenting less         frames in low-variance regions, and achieve more precision by         hand segmenting more frames in high-variance regions.     -   The changing rate of stepping interval is preferably derived         from large-scaled statistical investigations of patient studies         in the MMS patient database compared to determinations by         experienced modelers. In the MMS system, for a AAA application,         by tagging the following slices:         -   start of aorta proximal neck         -   start of aneurysm body         -   aortic bifurcation         -   right iliac bifurcation         -   left iliac bifurcation             it is a simple matter to automatically change the stepping             interval based on knowledge of the anatomy being examined.             Experience at MMS has shown that in the aorta body, (10 mm)             intervals yield acceptable results, while 3 mm steps work             better in the iliac branches.     -   1.4 Specify Stepping Interval Automatically Based on the Rate of         Change of the Segmentation.     -   When a modeler is segmenting key frames, an algorithm can be         employed to modify stepping intervals based on the geometrical         and morphological change of the segmentation as it is being         done. The change of stepping intervals can be formalized as:         Stepping Interval=f(distance penalty)         where the distance penalty is used as a measure of how fast the         segmentation changes from key frame to key frame. In other         words, changes in the segmentation are quantified as the         geometrical and morphological differences of sequential         segmentations, and can be computed from the distance map of the         preceding segmentation:         distance penalty_(N) =g(segmentation_(N), distancemap_(N−STEP)         _(—) _(INTERVAL)),         where N is the frame index number.

2. A Method to Generate or Copy the Bloodflow Segmentation Results from one Key Frame to the Next Key Frame.

It is also possible to provide a method to generate or copy the bloodflow (or other anatomy) segmentation results from one key frame to the next key frame. This can be based on a pixel-wise threshold (“geodesic dilation” or “flood operation”) or on edge detection (e.g. Watershed algorithm ).

Segmentation on the current key frame provides pixel intensity and key geometrical and morphological information that can assist the segmentation of the next slice. If it is assumed that the variations are small enough between two sequential slices, all information from the current slice can be carried to the next key frame in order to segment the new anatomy.

First, the index for the next key frame is identified using the techniques outlined in Section 1 above. Then, the following methodologies may be used to compute the anatomical labels:

-   -   (i) Bloodflow segmentation is copied from the current key frame         to the next key frame. Based on the distribution of the pixel         intensities in the current key frame, determine the pixel         intensity range (Min/Max) which belongs to the bloodflow region.         A binary set intersection technique (“Label Painted”) is then         applied. The “Label Painted” technique excludes pixels whose         intensities fall outside of the determined pixel intensity         range. Using the surviving pixels in the next key frame as seed         points, the next key frame is flood-filled to obtain a starting         bloodflow segmentation.     -   (ii) A watershed-based algorithm is applied to segment the next         key frame. The advantage of this approach is that it can prevent         over-flooding situations which may happen with geodesic dilation         as implemented via the “Label_Painted+Flood” operations. The         watershed algorithm needs 3 input parameters: water level, level         threshold, and seed position. The preferred methods to determine         seed position and optimize the watershed parameters are as         follows.         -   (ii.i) Determining the seed position. Bloodflow segmentation             is first copied from the current key frame to the next key             frame. Then, “Label Painted” is applied to the next key             frame. The centroid of the remaining bloodflow segmentation             is taken as the seed for the watershed algorithm.         -   (ii.ii) Optimizing watershed parameters. A high water level             and a high level threshold are preferably used as the             initial watershed parameters for the next key frame. The             watershed algorithm is then applied to the next key frame.             Using the calculated seed position from step (ii.i), a             candidate bloodflow segmentation is picked out from the             multiplicity of segmentations produced by the watershed             algorithm. Next, a distance penalty for the obtained             segmentation is computed as follows:             distance penalty_(N) =g(segmentation_(N+STEPPING) _(—)             _(INTERVAL), distancemap_(N))             where N=the frame index of the current key frame.             -   If the computed distance penalty is higher than a preset                 threshold, both the water level and level threshold                 parameters are decreased; then the watershed algorithm                 is applied again. These steps are repeated for several                 iterations until the generated segmentation satisfies                 the distance penalty threshold.

3. A Method to Define Thrombus, Calcium and Other Blood Vessel Contents.

It is also possible to provide a method to define thrombus, calcium and other blood vessel contents. One preferred method includes the technique of segmenting both thrombus and calcium at the same time.

Once the bloodflow segmentation is complete, novel tools may be used to define other anatomical elements. The MMS system not only allows for the precise manual definition of segmentation for additional anatomy, but also includes tools for using pixel intensity, tools for using edge detection, and tools for simultaneously defining multiple anatomies.

-   -   3.1 Tools Using Pixel Intensity.     -   The pixel intensity range for each anatomic element can be         determined from a previous key frame or decided on a         case-by-case basis by experienced modelers.     -   Using this concept, first the bloodflow segmentation is dilated         (grown), then with the proper pixel intensity range set, the         “Label Painted” technique is used to catch thrombus, calcium,         and the other vascular anatomy. A complete segmentation can be         obtained by flooding each anatomical element separately. This         can be an effective methodology if used in conjunction with a         leak-detection algorithm to prevent massive over-segmenting in         low contrast images or in areas which are difficult to discern.     -   3.2 Tools Using Edge Detection.     -   A “gradient magnitude” filter may be applied to the intensity         image to get an image composed of edge information. Such         gradient magnitude filters are well known in the computer         imaging arts. With the edge image, there are then at least two         ways to define other segmentation anatomies:         -   3.2.1 Dilating (Growing) the Bloodflow Segmentation Until it             is Restrained by the Neighboring Edge Boundary.         -   With this technique, the bloodflow segmentation is dilated             (grown) until it is restrained by the neighboring edge             boundary. A contour restraint is adopted to prevent leaking.             In each cycle of growing, the bloodflow segmentation cannot             grow into “strong edges”. “Strong edges” can be defined as             those whose pixel values are higher than a pre-determined             threshold in the edge image. If pixels do grow into strong             edges, they are removed from the obtained segmentation. The             dilation of segmentation stops when its “contour penalty” is             higher than a threshold. The contour penalty is used as a             measure of the smoothness of the outer boundary of the             segmentation:             contour penalty=f(segmentation)

The more spatial high frequency areas (spikes) that there are along the segmentation boundary, the higher the contour penalty.

-   -   -   3.2.2 Using Bloodflow Segmentation as Seeds and Applying the             Fast Marching (Level Set) Algorithm to Define Thrombus.         -   With this technique, bloodflow segmentation is used as seeds             and the Fast Marching (level set) algorithm is applied to             define thrombus. The parameter governing the Fast Marching             algorithm is “stopping time”. At each time interval, the             area of the segmentation generated from the Fast Marching             algorithm is computed. The stopping time is reached when the             total area changed is below a threshold. See FIG. 12.

    -   3.3 Tools to Simultaneously Define Multiple Anatomies.

    -   Since the different anatomies to be segmented usually share         boundaries and borders, it is a useful optimization to allow the         segmentation system to define multiple anatomical types at the         same time.

    -   See FIG. 13.

    -   The picture on the left side of FIG. 13 shows a completed         bloodflow (blue) segmentation and the user interface to draw         thrombus (green) and calcium (pink) at the same time—“Paint         calcium after thrombus”. In the middle picture of FIG. 13, the         MMS technician has manually specified the boundary for the inner         wall of the blood vessel. While drawing, the paint is displayed         in the green thrombus color. When the user releases the mouse         button, the calcium (pink) is automatically distinguished based         on the pixel intensities of the underlying CT image (see the         picture on the right side of FIG. 13). The MMS standard is that         any pixel greater than 1450 Hounsfeld units should be labeled as         calcium.         Modifications

It will be appreciated that various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure. These modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 

1. A method for generating a computer model from scan data from a patient, comprising: (1) acquiring the scan data from the patient, wherein the scan data is acquired as a series of successive frames; (2) selecting a plurality of key frames from the scan data frames; (3) hand segmenting the selected key frames, whereby to identify specific anatomical structures; (4) automatically generating segmented intervening frames for the frames between the key frames using an interpolation process; (5) merging the automatically segmented intervening frames with the hand segmented key frames so as to generate a complete set of segmented frames; (6) obtaining a first measurement of a selected feature of the set of segmented frames; (7) updating the set of key frames by selecting at least one additional key frame, hand segmenting that at least one additional key frame, and replacing a corresponding intervening automatically segmented frame with said one additional hand segmented key frame; (8) automatically re-generating segmented intervening frames for the frames between the updated set of key frames using an interpolation process so as to provide an updated set of segmented frames; (9) obtaining a second measurement of the selected feature of the updated set of segmented frames; (10) comparing said second measurement with said first measurement; and (11) if the second measurement differs from the first measurement by a statistically significant amount, replacing the first measurement with the second measurement and repeating the process from Step
 7. 2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the scan data is obtained from a CT scanner.
 3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the scan data is obtained from a MRI scanner.
 4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said initial set of key frames is automatically generated by the system.
 5. A system according to claim 4 wherein said initial set of key frames is automatically generated by specifying the stepping interval in number of frames.
 6. A system according to claim 4 wherein said initial set of key frames is automatically generated by specifying the stepping interval in millimeters.
 7. A system according to claim 4 wherein said initial set of key frames is generated by specifying the stepping interval automatically based on the knowledge of the underlying anatomy.
 8. A system according to claim 4 wherein said initial set of key frames is generated by specifying the stepping interval automatically based on the rate of change of the segmentation.
 9. A system according to claim 4 wherein said initial set of key frames is generated by specifying the stepping interval automatically based on a statistical analysis of the source medical images.
 10. A system according to claim 1 wherein said initial set of key frames is hand selected by a technician.
 11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the interpolation process automatically generates segmented intervening frames for the regions between the key frames by interpolating solely from the segmented key frames.
 12. A system according to claim 1 wherein the interpolation process automatically generates segmented intervening frames for the regions between the key frames by utilizing the native scan data in combination with the segmented key frames.
 13. A system according to claim 1 wherein the interpolation process automatically generates segmented intervening frames for the regions between the key frames by using the Snakes (active contours) algorithm.
 14. A system according to claim 1 wherein the interpolation process automatically generates segmented intervening frames for the regions between the key frames by using the Fast Marching (level set) algorithm.
 15. A system according to claim 1 wherein a computer model of the patient's anatomy is generated from the complete set of segmented frames by transforming the data in the segmented frames into a polygonal surface model.
 16. A system according to claim 1 wherein metrics are generated from the complete set of segmented frames.
 17. A system according to claim 16 wherein the metrics are selected from a group consisting of volume, surface area and vessel diameters.
 18. A system according to claim 1 wherein the first measurement of a selected feature of the computer model involves the measurement of volume.
 19. A system according to claim 1 wherein the comparison of the second measurement of a selected feature of the computer model to the first measurement of the selected feature of the computer model involves the measurement of volume deviation.
 20. A system according to claim 1 wherein hand segmentation is used in the region where the anatomy is changing rapidly from slice to slice, and automatic segmentation is used in the region where the anatomy is relatively constant from slice to slice.
 21. A system according to claim 1 wherein the second measurement is deemed to differ statistically insignificantly from the first measurement, when the change in the measurement of the selected feature differs by a value less than a predetermined amount.
 22. A system according to claim 1 wherein a key frame anatomy segmentation is automatically produced via copying the current key frame to the next key frame and applying a pixel-wise threshold (geodesic dilation or flood operation).
 23. A system according to claim 1 wherein a key frame anatomy segmentation is automatically produced via copying the current key frame to the next key frame, by applying an edge detection algorithm.
 24. A system according to claim 23 wherein the edge detection algorithm is the watershed algorithm.
 25. A system according to claim 1 wherein anatomy segmentation may be effected by segmenting two different anatomical structures at the same time.
 26. A system according to claim 1 wherein anatomy segmentation may be effected by means of tools using pixel intensity.
 27. A system according to claim 1 wherein anatomy segmentation may be effected by means of tools using edge detection.
 28. A system according to claim 27 wherein anatomy segmentation may be effected by means of tools using edge detection, and further wherein the anatomy segmentation may be effected by dilating (growing) the bloodflow segmentation until it is restrained by the neighboring edge boundary.
 29. A system according to claim 27 wherein anatomy segmentation may be effected by means of tools using edge detection, and further wherein the anatomy segmentation may be effected by using selected anatomy segmentation as seeds and applying the Fast Marching (level set) algorithm to define a second selected anatomy segmentation.
 30. A system according to claim 1 wherein anatomy segmentation may be effected by means of tools simultaneously defining multiple anatomies.
 31. A method for confirming the accuracy of a computer model generated by hand segmenting a selected group of key frames and automatically generating segmented intervening frames for the regions between the key frames using an interpolation process, comprising: (1) obtaining a first measurement of a selected feature of the set of segmented frames; (2) updating the set of key frames by selecting at least one additional key frame, hand segmenting that at least one additional key frame, and replacing a corresponding intervening automatically segmented frame with said one additional hand segmented key frame; (3) automatically re-generating segmented intervening frames for the frames between the updated set of key frames using an interpolation process so as to provide an updated set of segmented frames; (4) obtaining a second measurement of the selected feature of the updated set of segmented frames; (5) comparing said second measurement with said first measurement; and (6) if the second measurement differs from the first measurement by a statistically significant amount, replacing the first measurement with the second measurement and repeating the process from Step
 2. 32. A system for generating a computer model or metrics from scan data from a patient, comprising: (1) apparatus for acquiring the scan data from the patient, wherein the scan data is acquired as a series of successive frames; (2) apparatus for selecting a plurality of key frames from the scan data frames; (3) apparatus for hand segmenting the selected key frames, whereby to identify specific anatomical structures; (4) apparatus for automatically generating segmented intervening frames for the frames between the key frames using an interpolation process; (5) apparatus for merging the automatically segmented intervening frames with the hand segmented key frames so as to generate a complete set of segmented frames; (6) apparatus for obtaining a first measurement of a selected feature of the set of segmented frames; (7) apparatus for updating the set of key frames by selecting at least one additional key frame, hand segmenting that at least one additional key frame, and replacing a corresponding intervening automatically segmented frame with said one additional hand segmented key frame; (8) apparatus for automatically re-generating segmented intervening frames for the frames between the updated set of key frames using an interpolation process so as to provide an updated set of segmented frames; (9) apparatus for obtaining a second measurement of the selected feature of the updated set of segmented frames; (10) apparatus for comparing said second measurement with said first measurement; (11) apparatus for, if the second measurement differs from the first measurement by a statistically significant amount, replacing the first measurement with the second measurement and repeating the process from Step 7; and (12) apparatus for generating a computer model or metrics from the complete set of segmented frames.
 33. A system for confirming the accuracy of a computer model generated by hand segmenting a selected group of key frames and automatically generating segmented intervening frames for the regions between the key frames using an interpolation process, comprising: (1) apparatus for obtaining a first measurement of a selected feature of the set of segmented frames; (2) apparatus for updating the set of key frames by selecting at least one additional key frame, hand segmenting that at least one additional key frame, and replacing a corresponding intervening automatically segmented frame with said one additional hand segmented key frame; (3) apparatus for automatically re-generating segmented intervening frames for the frames between the updated set of key frames using an interpolation process so as to provide an updated set of segmented frames; (4) apparatus for obtaining a second measurement of the selected feature of the updated set of segmented frames; (5) apparatus for comparing said second measurement with said first measurement; and (6) apparatus for, if the second measurement differs from the first measurement by a statistically significant amount, replacing the first measurement with the second measurement and repeating the process from Step
 2. 